I've been working on the Wolf Totem painting once again. It always takes a while to jump back into a painting part way through. It takes some time to reconnect and rediscover where you were when you had to put it aside for a while.

With submissions coming up for upcoming Fine Art Shows on the Island, I needed to also start on another painting. And the 4ft x 4ft canvas was calling out. I'd looked through my image library to try and find another image that would be suitable for such a canvas, one with adequate resolution to work from. But I was feeling that the only image that best suited this canvas was the Brown Bear. I had done a 3ft x 3ft painting of it, and included it in my first solo exhibition at the Silk Purse Gallery. I was so happy when the Brown Bear painting found its new home with a dear former student of mine.

But during that same exhibition, one gentleman voiced that he loved that painting but that it was too small. So, I figured that the Brown Bear was calling again, and I wanted a composition and size that could command attention in a show. But as with all my paintings in this series, I will not refer to picture of the first painting, and only work from the photograph. It will guide the way, with whatever changes that come up along the way.

I also find it helpful to have a second painting in the works. It informs the work being done on the other. Also in this case, it is helping me connect to the starting phase of a canvas, given that the Wolf was further on in its progression.

Author

Andre Prevost, began his work in theatre in the late 70s after completing his studies at the Banff School of Fine Arts, and in his iconography in 1980, and having a large body of work in each. He has since been based in Western Canada; North Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and now back on the West Coast.